The Chartered College of Teaching has joined with medical and policing colleges to commit to using evidence-based practice.
The Chartered College launched earlier this year as a professional group for teachers. Today, it has joined with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the College of Policing to sign a pledge declaring to “take full account of evidence” in the daily decisions of their own institutions.
The signing was hosted by Professor John Shepherd and the Alliance for Useful Evidence, which promotes the use of high-quality evidence.
Professor Dame Alison Peacock, the chief executive of the Chartered College, said the institution was already working with “eminent educational researchers” to produce a journal, titled Impact, on teaching theory and practice.
The declaration warns that “untested interventions” can be harmful and wasteful of resources, and adds that all members of the college are expected to “take full account of evidence and evidence informed guidance in their daily decisions and advice”.
It adds: “Further, because potential new policies and interventions need to be tested for effectiveness and cost benefit, we also declare that our institutions expect and will support rigorous evaluation.”
When the college launched in January, Peacock promised it would place research and evidence “at the heart of learning” for teachers.
It’s ironic that a few days before a statue of George Orwell was unveiled TeachFirst censored a blog written by Toby Young because they didn’t agree with it. It appears Young had committed Thought Crime. http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2017/11/message-to-teachfirst-debate-means-not-censoring-views-you-dont-agree-with
It appears TeachFirst, a major trainer of teachers, views some evidence as less palatable than others. Let’s hope those who advocate the use of evidence don’t take such a position. Unfortunately, if schools minister Nick Gibb is anything to go by, evidence will only be that which supports his prejudices.